The Plan

*The Plan* compiles 24 early demos recorded by Gary Numan & The Tubeway Army over three days during March 1978. From the opening “That’s Too Bad,” they sound like a completely different band from what most listeners know. Shortly before Numan and company glommed onto the icy synth-laden new wave sound that catapulted them into superstardom, they were just another guitar-based English punk band incubating a promising potential. Numan has said that he never intended for these demos to surface and that they were recorded with the sole intention to land them a record deal. Still, *The Plan* is a thoroughly enjoyable snapshot that reflects a time before punk became a fad. “Bombers” is a standout with a catchy, scratchy guitar riff that nicely contrasts Numan’s nihilist approach to singing. With “Mean Street,” a vengeful Numan has the last say on the band by the same name that fired him prior to his forming The Tubeway Army. Hints at Numan’s incorporation of synth soundscapes are salient in “This Machine” and “Something’s in the House.”